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- Kowtow, which is borrowed from koutou in Mandarin Chinese. It is a traditional prostration common in Eastern Asia. It means kneeling and bowing one's head to the ground. Kowtow is used in showing respect to parents or gods, or as a form of punishment by the parents when one has done something wrong.
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Kowtow, in traditional China, the act of supplication made by an inferior to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor. This prostration ceremony was most commonly used in religious worship, by commoners who came to make a request of the local district magistrate, and by officials.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A kowtow / ˈ k aʊ t aʊ / (simplified Chinese: 叩头; traditional Chinese: 叩頭) is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence.
The kowtow is the ancient Chinese way of showing respect, reverence and gratitude. ‘Kowtow’ is the Cantonese spelling of the pinyin kòutóu 叩 头 which means literally ‘ knock head ’. Some say that a proper kowtow requires the sound of the skull hitting the ground to be heard.
- Why Was The Kowtow Made
- How Does Kowtow Work?
- Why Was The Kowtow So Important?
- Kowtow History
- Conclusion
The kowtow could be made by commoners who went to see people in authority, or by foreign dignitaries who went to see the king. Apart from such interactions, the kowtow was also performed in religious ceremonies. During the Ming dynasty, the kowtow had evolved quite a bit so that envoys that went to see the emperor or to visit the shrine of Confuciu...
The kowtow, as a sign of respect, was essentially used by people who wanted to express respect or reverence for their superior. It was not used among people who were considered the same in terms of social ranking. For instance, family members could not use kowtow with each other as they were all considered of the same ranking. In traditional China,...
Seeing as the kowtow was more than a respectful greeting, it played a major role in sealing the emperor’s place as the leader and son of heaven. The fact that it was an expression of reverence made it easy to remind people who their leaders were, and just how much respect they were to be accorded. Even the highest ranking person in China, the emper...
When did Kowtow begin?
The kowtow has been used in traditional China for centuries, and it is thought to have been established during the Warring States Period of China or the periods of spring and autumn. This period was between 771 BC and 221 BC. During this period, there was a general decline in respect for authority as a result of constant feuding between various states. The leaders of these states would defy the king’s court which was strongly against these feuds and wars, and a large number of marquises and d...
Who invented the kowtow?
While the invention or development of the kowtow cannot be traced to any singular person, it is believed to have been derived from the teachings of Confucius. He thought that the Chinese emperor was a son of heaven, and that respect for him was to be absolute. Confucius’ teaching also detailed that the emperor had received the mandate of heaven to rule society and was, therefore, to be held in extremely high regard. For this reason, the elaborate bow became necessary to uphold this teaching,...
Kowtow Origin
Over the years, many people have thought the kowtow to have come from various parts of Asia, largely because many other Asian communities have adopted it in one way or another. As earlier stated, the kowtow came primarily from China and continues to hold relevant ground to date. The act began as far back as 771 BC which is close to three millennia ago and, even though it is not used as elaborately as it was then, it still continues to be performed in various other ways and environments.
In both modern and traditional Chinese culture, respect continues to hold an incredibly significant place. Expressions of the same are also many, and the kowtow is one of the most elaborate and commonly used. It has, in the recent past, seen a ‘modernization’ of sorts, so that users do not have to go down on their knees. The kowtow has always held ...
Jan 25, 2024 · Why Do You Bow 3 Times? The act of bowing three times at a funeral in Chinese culture has its origins in a formal tribute called “三拜九叩” (3 bowing and 9 kowtow). It was a ceremonial gesture used when requesting an audience with the emperor or paying tribute to deities.
Feb 12, 2016 · Stark images of a Chinese man kowtowing to his elderly parents at a railway station has moved many online to debate the concept of filial piety and its place in modern China.
Sep 10, 2009 · The kowtow, kotow, or ketou 2 —the act of kneeling and bowing the head to the ground—has long stood, for British and American diplomats and scholars, at the very centre of the controversy about relations between China and the West.
